It’s no surprise that commercial urban music for the most part has shifted towards a more dance/floor filler direction. With the introduction of David Guetta, Flo Rida and a faster paced Chris Brown, the once mid-tempo R&B club genre has pretty much become extinct.

The days of 112, Montell Jordan, and TLC being played in the clubs are a distant memory. Filled with futuristic electro beats and auto-tune, being that he is the originator of the latest wave of vocal distortion, T-Pain’s latest project is another run-of-the-mill club album with the occasional catchy melody.

Opening with the baller anthem ‘Bang Bang Pow Pow,’ it’s actually one of the better tracks featured on rEVOLVEr. While the lyrical content has no substance whatsoever - “Money to blow, I’m living off tour/ Boat loads of cash, b**ch I’m overboard,” it’s a record to let loose to and celebrate life. Club records don’t need to be self-conscious, they just need to serve their purpose which is to heighten the partygoer’s clubbing experience. With Lil Wayne on the track, even if his lines are less than imaginative - “I go so hard they call me go so hard,” his swagger floating over the track’s ‘Thong Song’ type strings is enjoyable to listen to.

Another record that has some serious appeal, and for this reason was chosen as the album’s lead single, is ‘5 O Clock.’ Featuring both Wiz Khalifa and Lily Allen, whose vocals almost sound like a chilling sample, the track that broaches the subject of late night love has a smooth backdrop comprised of some light percussion and an ear pleasing piano riff. Khalifa’s cheeky lyrics - “And you ain’t got nothing on, but the t-shirt that I left over your house the last time I came and put it on ya,” delivered with a cocky demeanor reminds you of a confident booty call regular.

Enlisting the help of party pop regulars, Pitbull, Chris Brown, and Ne-Yo, the overbearing dance generic-ness doesn’t stop. ‘It’s Not You It’s Me’ sounds like a David Guetta reworking while ‘Look At Her Go’ with Chris Breezy is just plain confused. It doesn’t know if it wants to bang in the clubs or be your favourite stripper’s table dance anthem. To be perfectly honest, most of the tracks on rEVOLVEr might appeal to the new generation who choose bass over substance, however, as far as music lovers go this is not something you’re going to be playing on the regular. This is average at best. 

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